THE HEAD. 23 



makes its appearance. At the same time that it possesses breadth 

 and fulness in parts where capacity is needed, it is so "lean" 

 every where, that every subcutaneous vein and muscle may be dis- 

 tinguished through the skin. Ample across the forehead^vide be- 

 tween the ears, small and yet expanding at the muzzle, capacious in 

 throat, and broad though elegantly curved at its junction with the 

 neck, the head of the racer is at once perfect and beautiful, and 

 full of expression, and fire, and sagacity. Blood and action, speed 

 and bottom, are all the natural attributes of a horse having such a 

 head ; and though these brilliant qualities may be in a measure 

 sullied by temper, still, in a general way, this is the head that is 

 to be regarded as emblematic of all that is good and valuable in 

 the horse species. For all this we stand indebted to the Arabian, 

 the radix of our blood stock : although we have, it must be allowed, 

 greatly improved upon the original breed, still for our present un- 

 equalled turf-horse are we as much in debt to the Arabian as the 

 farmer or the horticulturist is for his improved vegetable pro- 

 ductions to the exotic or graft from another country. 



We have been considering the most eligible size and shape, or 

 kind of head ; but we have said nothing yet about what, perhaps, 

 is of more consequence than either its magnitude or form, or what, 

 more properly speaking, may in a measure comprehend both, viz. 

 the face or expression of the head — the countenance of the horse, 

 if I may be allowed the phrase. To persons not conversant with 

 or observant of horses, it is quite incredible what an endless variety 

 there is in this respect; almost as many shades of difference as 

 exist in the human countenance. Take, for example, the House- 

 hold Brigade of Cavalry, all blacks, and nearly a thousand strong, 

 drawn up in line, and examine with philosophic eye the horses' 

 faces : no two will be found alike ; every individual will present 

 his own peculiar expression ; and by that look, always indicative of 

 property or propensity of some sort, will he best be distinguished 

 out of a herd of other horses of the same colour. The common 

 mode of distinguishing horses is by colour and marks, and size and 

 shape, and so forth ; but this is not the true unerring characteristic: 

 that is to be found in the face alone. In many animals there is an 

 evident difference between the countenances of the male and female; 

 a remark that holds good with horses so long as they continue un- 



